Chapter 13: Confusion and Nobunaga Or is it Not!?
Kagero sat at the riverbank letting her legs splash in the the water. Kagome swam in the river with her yellow with red horizontal lined bath suit as Kumiko tied her kimono at her shin so she could try to catch fish in the water.
Naraku sat under the shade of a tree directly behind Kagero, his face was all scrunched up as he watched the tiny infant in his hand that he had been forced to hold since Inuyasha refused to hold the baby and Jaken's hands were too small to, Mizuko was sleeping against the the two-headed dragon's torso and both the women were too busy playing in the water.
Inuyasha sat high up in a tree stretched out on a long tree branch, dejectedly staring down at three playing in the water. Both Jaken and Mizuko sat fast asleep leaning against the stomach of the two-headed dragon who sat next to Naraku. Sesshomaru, his older brother, had yet to return from wherever he had wandered off to and both Inuyasha and Naraku were getting antsy about the jewel search.
Kagome sighed as she stood upright and stretched her hands to the sky. ''Oh, wow! That was so nice. The water is clean. The air is fresh. It's not so bad being in the middle ages.'' Kagome excitedly exclaimed as Inuyasha called down from the trees to Naraku.
''We've been away for seven days now. I thought if we left the village we'd find more jewel pieces out here in Musashi. But - -'' Inuyasha scoffed as he glared down at Naraku.
''Inuyasha, these things take time.'' Naraku frowned as he stared down at the sleeping infant in his arms.
All this thing does is eat, sleep, cry and it stinks at times. Is it supposed to do all that?
Naraku thought as he questioningly stared down at the snoring infant as Inuyasha leapt from the tree and crouched on all fours in front of him staring him in his blood red eyes.
''Are you listening to me, or what?'' Inuyasha snapped as Naraku narrowed his eyes at him.
''Lower your voice Inuyasha, do you want to wake it?'' Naraku asked gesturing toward the sleeping Kotaru as Inuyasha rubbed his ears in fear.
''No, I've had enough of that thing's crying.'' Inuyasha retorted as they both jumped when they heard Kagome scream and they both cringed in pain when little Kotaru started his loud wails hearing all the commotion.
''Oh, great! Now look what you've done, Ka-Go-Me!'' Inuyasha barked as he stared at her over his left shoulder.
''But my clothes!'' Kagome yelled as a little white thing blurred through their line of sight carrying Kagome's clothes off somewhere into the distance and then a soft noise rung through the air.
''I heard a whistle.'' Inuyasha stated as his eyes widen and he turned in the direction of the sound.
*O*O*O*
Sesshomaru frowned as he continued to hunt for his father's lackeys. He would not let them get away with this! How could they bestow the Tessaiga to his hanyo brother, Inuyasha? No! How could his great and terrible father do this to him? He was the first born, he is his heir! There was no way a disgrace such as Inuyasha should have possession of the Tessaiga.
Sesshomaru was fuming with anger as he orbed from one location to another all within a matter of seconds. When he found those two they were all dead including the cow Mo - Mo.
*O*O*O*
Inuyasha was leading the pack, following the sound of the whistle that was blown a few minutes ago. They came upon a young man who had his index finger and thumb in his mouth whistling and the white blur that they had seen making off with Kagome's clothes was nothing more than a white tiny monkey. The young man smiled and caught the monkey who leaped into his arms still carrying Kagome's clothes.
''That's my good boy. Ok, what'd you bring me this time?'' He smiled as he reached into Kagome's blouse and pulled out her sky blue bra. He gasped in embarrassment and then turned to yell at the monkey.
''This isn't something to eat!'' He snapped as the monkey stared up in confusion and the group emerged from the bushes.
''Hey!'' Inuyasha yelled through clenched teeth as an enraged Kagome popped up beside him.
''Give me my clothes back.'' Kagome commanded.
The young man leaped back and drew his katana from his left hip.
''Who are you? You look suspicious.'' He proclaimed as the tip of his blade pointed toward Inuyasha and the others.
Inuyasha scoffed and marched up to the man putting his right foot upon the man's head.
''We were just about to say the same thing.'' Inuyasha frowned as the tiny monkey ran around in circles with his hands in the air.
Naraku sighed, shaking his head from side to side. Jaken glared at both the young man and Inuyasha in pure disgust while Kumiko stared in awe at the whole scene and both Kagero and Kagome worriedly stared between each other. Mizuko yawned from on top of the two-headed dragon.
*O*O*O*
Sesshomaru had since calmed down from his rage and was now tracking the group of nine which consisted of three mortals, an infant, a child, a two-headed dragon, an imp and two hanyos. As he smelt the air he came to the conclusion that they had traveled a great distance from where he last left them.
He was just about to orb to them since orbing was a lot faster, but it dawn on him that he would have to subject himself as the alpha male and protect those he greatly despised. Did he really want to rush off to them? They didn't really need him after all they had Inuyasha and his Tessaiga to protect them and not to mention Naraku who for some miraculous reason is an extremely powerful without the use of a sword.
Like the women and Mizuko, Naraku was just as much as a puzzle, Sesshomaru couldn't quite figure him out either nor did he quite understand how a spider hanyo could be so powerful. Naraku's powers could almost rival Sesshomaru's very own. The spider hanyo was very mysterious and little is known about his origins or how his father, Inu No Taisho came to find Naraku as a toddler.
It didn't really matter to Sesshomaru, Naraku was the only person he could fully trust with his life. He was sure the spider hanyo would never betray him. They grew up together and Naraku has been under the West protection for over 50 years.
Naraku's loyalty was unwavering and he has proved that countless times. Naraku was the brother that Sesshomaru never had, if Naraku had not been a hanyo, Sesshomaru would have probably treated him as his brother, but because of their ranks and statuses Naraku would never be anything more than his adviser unless his father, Inu no Taisho said otherwise.
Sesshomaru sighed and then stared up at the bright and blue sky, lost in the depths of his curious, bantered and confused mind.
*O*O*O*
The young man sat under the shade of a tree with the monkey perched on his shoulder both demolishing the bag of chips that Kagome had given them. Inuyasha laid upon the trunk of the lopsided tree as Naraku sat on the other side of the man to keep Kagero who sat on Naraku left side away from the said man. Jaken and Mizuko sat under the dragon who sat across from the young man. Kagome sat on the other other side of the young man under Inuyasha and Kumiko ran around chasing a golden butterfly.
Kotaru was fasten to Jaken's back by the black boba baby wrap that Kagero had just did a few seconds ago, much to Jaken's disapproval and annoyance. He kept his mouth clamped shut for he didn't dare voice his opinion of the girl's tactics out of fear of what Naraku and his Lord would do, seeing that his Lord dragged both him and Naraku all the way from the Palace to keep a close eye on her and that Naraku had been carefully eyeing her as if he was trying to figure her out or it could be that he, himself had taken a liking to her. Jaken didn't know what it was about this girl, but he knew there was going to be trouble if Lady Sakasagami no Yura or her father, Lord Yuko found out.
''You must have really been hungry. Would you like some tea?'' Kagome smiled as she offered a warm cup of tea to the young man which he gladly accepted.
''Thank you.'' He stated with a mouth full of chips and then quickly gulped the tea all down.
''And there's something in here for each of you, too.'' Kagome smiled as she handed each of them a bag of chips except Inuyasha who continued to stared up at the sky.
''No, thank you.'' Inuyasha flatly replied.
''But if you eat it, I don't have to carry it.'' Kagome stated as she returned the bag of chips that she was going to give Inuyasha back into her book bag.
Inuyasha leapt down from the trunk of the tree and angrily scooped up Kagome's yellow book bag.
''Look, it's not my fault you gotta carry around so much junk all the time.'' Inuyasha snapped as Kagome narrowed her eyes at him.
''It's not junk. It's homework and clothes and - -''
Inuyasha sighed as he slouched his shoulders cutting Kagome off.
''I give up.'' Inuyasha frowned in defeat as Naraku smirked at the whole scene and Jaken scoffed. ''Mortals.''
The young man crushed the empty bag of chips in his palms gaining everyone's attention.
''I give you thanks, woman. The chips potatoes were delicious.'' he stated as he stared at Kagome who smiled warmly up at him.
''My name is Kagome and his is Inuyasha and these are - -''
Kagome was interrupted by the young man's cry out pain as he slapped his cheek to reveal a squashed flea floating down to the ground.
''Myoga!? What are you doing here? You do remember that Sesshomaru's tryna kill ya, right?'' Inuyasha snapped as Myoga choked out painfully. ''Hai, I came...to...help...Mi'lord.''
The young man stared in fearful awe at the group around him as Kagome continued to introduce everyone. After everyone was introduce Kagome walk up to the man, pointing her index finger at him.
''You said before you were separated from your allies. Tell me, are you a nobleman?'' Kagome questioned as the young man crossed his arms and turned his back to her.
''I'm not at liberty to reveal my family...'' he began as he started to walk toward a cliff. ''But my name's Nobunaga.'' he stated as he glanced over his shoulders and smiled warmly at them.
Nobunaga wears a purple shitagi and a blue hakama over it. A standard obi is tied over the costume, which holds his katana. He also wears a pair of wooden zōri on his feet.
''Nobunaga! The Nobunaga?'' Kagome excitedly gasp and anxiously ran up to him. ''Let me shake your hand.'' Kagome cheerful exclaimed as violent shook the his hand up and down.
''I'm so glad to meet you. Can I have your autograph?'' Kagome questioned as she held up a piece of paper and a tiny brush.
''Where did she get that from?'' Naraku questioned as he curiously rubbed the back of his head.
''Who knows.'' Inuyasha whispered as he walked up beside Kagome with a now round Myoga on his shoulders
''Uh, ok.'' the man stated with uncertainty.
''Right here, if you'd be so kind.'' Kagome smiled as she pointed down at the paper. ''And your full name of course.'' Kagome happily giggled as the young man began to write it down.
''What's got you so excited?'' Inuyasha flatly questioned.
''That's Oda Nobunaga! Hello! Didn't you study history?'' Kagome cheerfully smirked as Myoga hopped on her right shoulder.
''Well, actually, my dear, that's not what the signature says.'' Myoga stated as Kagome stared down at the paper that was just handed to her.
''Amari Nobunaga? But I thought you were Oda Nobunaga.'' Kagome frowned in disappointment. the young man scoffed in offense.
''I belong to the Takaeda Clan in the land of Kai. Please do not confuse me with him.'' Amari grunted.
''So you do know him?'' Kagome asked.
''Yeah! And he's a big idiot!'' Amari yelled as Kagome glared at him.
''If you weren't Oda Nobunaga, then you should have said so.'' She snapped as Kagero chuckled at her sister's displeasure.
''And here I thought you were living history.'' Kagome dejectedly frowned as Amari clears his throat.
''I trust you'll excuse me. An important mission demands my immediate attention. Farewell.'' Amari stated as he closed his eyes and began to blindly walk in toward the edge of the cliff.
Inuyasha's eyes widen at Amari's stupidity and he tried to warn him about the cliff. ''Uh, I wouldn't go that way if I were - -''
''Aah!'' Amari shouted as he fell down the cliff.
''You.'' Inuyasha frowned as the group all rushed to stared over the cliff at Amari whose legs were both twitching from his fall and the monkey laid flat on the ground.
''I told you, but you wouldn't listen.'' Inuyasha taunted as Naraku frowned at Amari's foolishness and Jaken grunted in annoyance as Kumiko laughed.
''Look at the funny man.'' Kumiko clapped her hands together and Kagero shook her head.
''Stupidity knows no bounds.'' Mizuko sleepily yawned again.
''A loser? Yes. But Oda Nobunaga? Probably not.'' Kagome retorted as she glared down at the recovering Amari and his tiny white monkey.